Mr Ayoola Oyedokun, the District Governor, Rotary International Club, District 9125, Nigeria, has urged Oyo State Government to provide more science laboratory equipment to schools to enhance learning.
Oyedokun made the plea on Wednesday in Ibadan at the inauguration of renovated health facility at Agodi Correctional Centre, renovated blocks of classrooms and a library with donation of books at St Brigid’s Secondary School, Ibadan.
He said, “We assess every need and since they had already done a project here at the correctional facilities, which bordered on the rehabilitation and empowerment of some of the inmates.”
Oyedokun said that the club was all about touching lives, urging Rotary Club of Ibadan, Jericho Metro, to provide an e-library alongside the book library provided before the end of the Rotary year.
He, however, urged Oyo State Government to provide science laboratory equipment for St Brigid’s School, as part of the government’s responsibilities.
“Rotary Club compliments what the government does, so that we don’t take over the role of government.
“So, we are pleading, through the Permanent Secretary to convey our desire, as Rotary Club members, that the state government should assist this school which is producing great students,” Oyedokun said.
In his remarks, the President, Rotary of Ibadan Jericho Metro, Mr Samuel Kolawole, said that renovation of the Agodi Correctional Health facility was one of the areas of focus of Rotary year 2021/2022, which was disease prevention and control.
Kolawole also stressed the importance of quality education in a conducive environment and the provision of a well-furnished library as resources for students to excel in life.
“We have a total of 260 books here, and the value of these books is about N300,000 as the cost, that is what we have bought for the library.
“For the library, we have refurbished the shelves and we have put in some more shelves,” he said.
Also, Mrs Aminat Atere, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, underscored the importance of good facilities to promote education.
“The state government has committed substantial resources of the state to the construction of new blocks of classrooms, renovation of dilapidated facilities, provision of students furniture, procurement of textbooks and other educational materials.
“Consequent to these giant strides, the enrolment figures in public schools have increased.
“The confidence of people in public schools has been restored; there is a significant reduction in the numbers of out-of-school children.
“The attendance rate of students in schools has increased and the academic performance of the students in both internal and external examinations has improved,” Atere said.
Responding, the Principal of St Brigid’s High School, Mrs Adenike Adetunji, appreciated the club, saying that the provision would definitely motivate the teachers to improve their performances.
“Our Oliver Twist asks for more, the school laboratory needs refurbishment in terms of equipment and building to hasten our accreditation by WAEC.
“We still hope you will remember us for good when you are embarking on a golden project like this in the nearest future,” Adetunji said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that N3.2 million was spent to renovate the block of classrooms.
(NAN)
banker of the day - FREE banker tips from experts